The Penn's Grove record., 1887-02-12

Mr. Flncn, perfectly agree Win YOU
The value of their labor in the market
is all that laborers can pretend to-all
that they should have. Nothing acts
!, more p~erniciously than the absurd ex-
~traneous support called charity"
"IIear, haarI'' said Mr.. Collett.
"You're a clever fellow, Peter. Go on,
my dear boy, go onl'
"What results from charitable aid2"
continued Peter. The value OF labor
is kept at an unnatural level. State
charity is state robbery; private charity
is public wrong"
"That's 1t, PeterI'' said Mr.. Collett.
what do you think Of our philosophy,
John?n
81 don't like it, 1 don't believe it'll"
said John. "You were quite right to
give the man a shilling. I'd have given
him a shilling myself"
"Oh, you would-would youp" said
Mr.. Collett. "You're very generous
with your shillings. Would you fly In
the face OF all orthodox political econ
omy, you Vandal9"
"Yes," said John, "as the Vandals
flew in the face of Rome, and destroyed
what had become a falsehood and a
nuisance
Poor Johnln said Mr.. Collett. "We
shall make anything OF him,
Peter. Really, we'd better talk of
something else. John, tell us about
the last new novel;"
They conversed on various topics,
until the arrival Of the invalid's early
bedtime parted uncle and nephews for
the night.
Mary Sutton seized an opportunity
the next morning, after breakfast, to
speak with John Meade alone.
"John," said she, ''do think more of
your own interest-of Jul interest.
What occasion for you to be 80 violent
lastnight, and contradict Mr.. Collett so
shockinglyP l saw Peter Finch laugh
ing to himself. John, you must be
more careful or we shall never be mar
ried."
swell, Mary, dear, I'll do my best, y
said John. sit was that COMPOUNDED
Peter, with his chain of iron maxims,
that made me fly out. Pm not an ice
berg, Mary"
81 am thankful that you are not, I"
said Mary; "but an iceberg floats
think of that, John. Remember-every
time you offend Mr.. Collect you please
Mr.. Finch"
$50 1 dol" said John. "Yes, I'll
remember that"
"If you would only try to be a little
mean and hard hearted said Mary;
''just q little, to begin with. You
would only stoop to conquer, John
ond vnHy dacarvo RI nonnpAr
MAY I gain my deserts. them" said
John. "Are you not to be my loving
wife, Maryf And are you not to sit at
needle work in my studio, whilst l
paint my great historical picture? How
a this come to pass If Mr.. Collett Will
do nothing for us2"
"Ah, how, indeedY" said Mary.
"But here's our friend, Peter Finch,
coming through the gate from his
walk. / leave you together, +" and so
saying, she withdrew.
"What, Meade?" said Peter Finch,
as he entered. "Skulking indoors on
a fine morning like thisI I've been all
through the village. Not an ugly
place-but wants looking after sadly.
Roads shamefully muddy Pigs allowed
to walk on the footpathl"
"Deadful!" exclaimed John.
81 say-you come out pretty strong
last night . said Peter. "Quite defed
the old mani But l like your spirit"
II have no doubt you do" thought
John.
"Oh, when l was a youth, I was a
little that way myself,n said Peter.
"But the world--ths world, my dear
sir-soon cures all our romantic no.
tions. l regret, of course, to see poor
people miserable; but what's the use of
regrettingp It's no part of the business
of the superior classes to interfere with
the laws of supply and demand; poor
people must be miserable. "What
can't be cured must be endured"
"That Is to say" returned John,
"what we can't cure, they must en-
durep"
Exactly so" said Peter.
Mr.. Collect this day was too i'll TO
leave his bed. About noon he requested
to see his nephews in his bedroom.
They found hun propped up by pill
lows, looking very weak, but in good
spirits as usual.
Swell, boys" said he, ''here l am,
you see; brought to an anchor at lastI
The doctor will be here soon, 1 sup.
pose, to shake his head and write re-
cipes. Humbug, my boysl Patients
can do as much for themselves, l be-
lleve, as doctors can do for them:
they're all In the dark together--the only
difference is that the patients grope in
English and the doctors grope in
Latin"
"You are too skeptical, SIR said
John Meade.
"Poohl" said Mr.. Collett. "Let us
change the subject. 1 want your ad-
wee, Peter and John, on a matter that
concerns your interests. I'm going to
make my will to-day, and / don't know
how to act about your cousin, Emma
Briggs. Emma disgraced us by marry
Ing an Gilman"
IAN oilmanl" exclaimed John.
"a vulgar, shocking oilmanl" said
Mr.. Collett; "a wretch who not only
sold oil, but soap, candles, turpentIne,
black-lead and birch brooms. 1t was a
dreadful blow to the family. Her poor
grandmother never got v it, and a
maiden aunt turned Methodist in de-
spair, Well, Briggs. the Gilman, died
last week, it seems. and his widow has
written to me, asking for assistance.
Now, l have thought Of leaving her a
hundred a year in my will. What right
had she to marry against the advice of
her friendsl What have l to do with
her misfortuneslo
"MY mind is quite made up,n said
Peter Finch; mo notice ought to be
taken of her. She made an obstinate
and unworthy match-and let her abide
the consequencesi'
"Now for your opinion, john" said
MI. Collett.
Upon my word, l think l must say
the same" said John Meade, bracing
himself up boldly for the part of the
worldly mar. what right had she to
marry-as you observed with great
Justice, sir. Let her abide the conse.
Quences-as you very properly re-
marked, Finch, Can't she carry on the
oilmsn's business9 / dare say it will
support her very WELL"
"Why, no." said Mr. Collect; "Briggs
died a bankrupt, and his widow and
children are destitute"
"That does not alter the question"